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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “bicycle”

wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →

For “bicycle”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 3 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.

wp.org search ranks on

Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.

We add

A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Give – Cloudflare Turnstile shows at wp.org #11 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 800+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Clearfy Cache – WordPress optimization plugin, Minify HTML, CSS & JS, Defer places #2 on merit, 4.7★ from 339 reviews, but shows at wp.org #7. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) wp.org #1 2 Clearfy Cache – WordPress optimization plugin, Minify HTML, CSS & JS, Defer 40K+ · 4.7★ (339) wp.org #7 5 too low 3 MKL Product Configurator for WooCommerce – 2D & 3D Live Preview 2K+ · 4.8★ (42) wp.org #3 ↑1 4 Agile Store Locator 10K+ · 4.9★ (59) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Time Clock – A WordPress Employee & Volunteer Time Clock Plugin 500+ · 4.9★ (8) wp.org #2 3 too high 6 RepairBuddy – Repair Shop CRM & Booking Plugin for WordPress 400+ · 4.9★ (24) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too high 7 WebinarIgnition – AI & MCP Webinar Builder on Your WordPress: Live, Automated & Evergreen, WooCommerce Upsells Inside 60+ · 4.5★ (51) wp.org #10 3 too low 8 Bukza 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 3 too high 9 WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) wp.org #24 15 too low 10 Simple Bike Rental — · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 WP Google Street View (with 360° virtual tour) & Google maps + Local SEO 300+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #8 3 too high 12 SKT Templates – 100% Free Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 20K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #21 9 too low 13 WC Contour – Product Bundles Builder for WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 C CommonsBooking – Vehicles — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 MohlaDesk – Repair & Maintenance Tracking System — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too high 16 Rentiloq – Equipment Rental for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too high 17 Bookyt Rental Software 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 1 too high 18 Give – Cloudflare Turnstile 800+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 7 too high 19 SkyServers Local Delivery and Pickup for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 MagePeople Ferry Booking System — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 Gobuddy – The official Gobuddy add-on for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 2 too high 22 Cyke Logistics 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 2 too high 23 ABP RentalForge — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 WPConfigurator 3D Product Customizer Lite — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too high

Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.